These are our top-rated affordable Pack ‘N Plays of this year. Although costing less than $100, they do not lag behind expensive models.
Affordable Pack ‘N Plays
Baby’s Little Place top-rated baby products
The decision for an inexpensive Pack ‘N Play might be a wise decision. Why would you spend a lot on a Playard with dozens, more or less, unnecessary accessories?
The important Pack ‘N Play features you should look for are a safe sleeping and playing area, ease of use, a fitted Pack ‘N Play mattress, and a quality carrying bag. Our favorite Pack ‘N Plays under $ 100 have all these features and more!
Pack ‘N Plays I’ve listed below are one of the cheapest models on the market, but that doesn’t mean they are not quality! And most importantly, affordable or not, Pack ‘N Plays have to meet all safety standards!
My favorite affordable Pack ‘N Play:
Graco Pack ‘N Play On the Go Playard
Is buying a cheap Pack ‘N Play worth it?
Yes, in my opinion, it is totally worth it!
A Pack ‘N Play is one of the best baby essentials on the market! Either for occasional sleepovers at grandparents’ home, camping, afternoon naps, or traveling, a Pack ‘N Play will spare you a lot of stress with arranging your baby’s safe playing and sleeping space when the crib is not by hand.
No wonder that it is a “must-have” piece of baby equipment for most parents! But you do not have to spend a lot to get a great one! Deciding on a cheap Pack ‘N Play will save you money, which you can use for other important baby stuff.
Baby’s Little Place Tip: If you are looking for proper sleep accommodation for travel only, you might like an ultra-light, safe, and quality travel crib that doesn’t cost a lot.
RELATED: Do I need a Pack ‘N Play?
The best affordable Pack ‘N Plays in 2023
Editor’s choice:
Graco Pack ‘N Play On the Go Playard
Why we love it:
- suitable for infants, babies, and toddlers
- removable full-size bassinet
- a toy bar with soft plush toys
- high quality for an affordable price
- durable
- breathable mesh
- automatic folding system
- wheels for easy movement when it’s set up
- wide selection of colorful patterns
- play yard carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage
The lightest choice:
Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard
Why we love it:
- lightweight aluminum frame
- breathable mesh
- one of the cheapest Pack ‘N Plays on the market
- quality made
- wide selection of colorful patterns
- removable padded floor
- travel bag for easy transport
- quick & easy setup
The cheapest Pack ‘N Play on the list:
Cosco Funsport Play Yard
Why we love it:
- affordable price
- good quality
- breathable mesh sides
- JPMA certificate
- meets all required ASTM safety standards
- padded floor and top edges
- easy set-up
- included carrying bag
- wide selection of colorful patterns
The best nursery center under $100:
Baby Trend E Nursery Center
Why we love it:
- affordable price
- removable crib mobile with toys
- removable full-size bassinet
- removable parent organizer for baby essentials
- wheels with brakes
- breathable mesh
- one-hand locking mechanism
- easy fold
- includes travel bag
The rising star amongst affordable Pack ‘N Plays:
BABY JOY Portable Baby Playard
Why we love it:
- a new model
- high quality for an affordable price
- non-toxic materials
- ASTM certified to be safe for your baby
- breathable, see-through mesh
- very stable
- bigger weight capacity from most Pack ‘N Plays on the market
- flexible wheels with brakes
- included carrying bag
Mattress for a Pack ‘N Play
Note!
As I don’t want to repeat myself, I won’t write about mattresses besides every Pack ‘N Play on the list. But that doesn’t mean it is not important! It also applies to all Playards on the market, cheap and expensive!
Do not use a crib mattress, any after-market mattress, or extra soft buntings in any Pack ‘N Play! Because Playard’s sides are made of mesh, they are unlike cribs that have rigid sides, flexible. If using a thicker or a different sized mattress, the child’s head may get between the mattress and Playard’s side, which can cause suffocation.
Pack ‘N Play’s mattresses, such as Dream On Me 3″ Playard Mattress, have a unique design, which prevents suffocation.
READ ALSO: Crib Vs. Pack and Play
More about our top-rated inexpensive Pack ‘N Plays
Check up more information about the best affordable Pack ‘N Plays, and find the perfect one for your needs!
Graco Pack ‘N Play On the Go Playard Review
We’ve chosen a Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard On the Go as the best amongst cheap Pack ‘N Plays because it is a simple, jet handy, and functional Playard. It is designed for the comfort of your child, at home, or when you are away. It is great, either as a sleeping or playing area.
I like it because it is suitable for newborns, babies, and toddlers. It features a full-size removable bassinet, which is perfect for infants. A full-size bassinet hangs on the Pack ‘N Play’s sides and enables having your infant closer to you. It is durable and safe, but don’t use it after your baby reaches 15 pounds, or starts pushing up on hands and knees, whichever comes first.
Graco is well known for its affordable prices and quality baby products. And their Pack ‘n Play Playard On the Go is not an exception. Although cheap, it features more than many expensive Pack ‘N Plays. It has even a toy bar with soft plush toys to help entertain and amuse your little one!
Quality & features:
The Pack ‘N Play is quality-made. It has a durable frame, which is surrounded by a strong mesh. The mesh is breathable and allows a great airflow through the Pack ‘N Play. That prevents the baby’s overheating and allows breathing through if the baby pushes his face to the side.
Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard On the Go possesses an automatic folding system, and wheels for easy moving around. You will also get a convenient carrying bag and a mattress pad.
Graco’s signature fold system makes it easy to pack up and folds really small. You can break down or set it back quickly, easily, and without any hassle. I have tried, and you really do need just one push to set it up, or one pull to fold it back.
Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard On the Go Specifications:
Measurements and Weight:
- assembled dimensions: 29.0 inches (H) x 28.25 inches (W) x 39.5 inches (D)
- collapsed dimensions: 27.0 inches (H) x 10.0 inches (W) x 10.0 inches (D)
- weight: 20.9 pounds
Age / Weight Recommendations:
- a full-size bassinet is suitable for babies under 15 pounds or until they can push up on hands and knees
- your child can use it until he/she reaches 35 ” or is unable to climb out
Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard
Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard is one of the lightest Pack ‘N Plays on the market. Because of its lightweight aluminum frame, it weighs only 16,25 pounds. That is only 3 pounds more than the lightest travel cribs, such as Babybjorn or Guava family, on the market.
The shape of lightweight travel cribs is a little different from Pack ‘N Plays. Their top is narrowed, and their mattress sits on the floor. These cribs are perfect for traveling and generally also double as a Pack ‘N Play. But the sleeping and playing area of regular Pack ‘N Plays is bigger and more comfortable.
That’s why parents love a Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard so much. It is very light but also a little larger, more comfortable, and more diverse as lightweight travel cribs. You get a quality Pack ‘N Play which is perfect for home use and vacationing for an affordable price.
Is Dream On Me Zodiac the cheapest Pack ‘N Play on the list?
Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard actually competes with Cosco Funsport Play Yard (described below) to be the cheapest Pack ‘N Play on this list. Depending on the color you choose and the available promotions, it is often even more affordable.
The Zodiak’s frame is surrounded by airy mesh sides that enable good airflow and allow your baby to breathe easily, even with the face pressed on the side. Its sides are also see-through so you can keep an eye on your baby, and your baby doesn’t feel trapped in there. It has a padded floor that is comfortable for your baby to play on, as well as catch a nap!
I didn’t notice any problems with the assembling. It sets up and folds down in minutes. You will also get a convenient tote bag for storage or easy transportation. The Pack ‘N Play fits nicely into the bag, and the bag is compact enough.
Dream On Me Zodiak Portable Playard’s Specifications:
Measurements and Weight:
- assembled dimensions: 40″ L x 28.5″ W x 29″ H
- collapsed dimensions: 29.5″ L x 8.5″ W x 7.8″ H
- weight: 16,25 pounds
Age / Weight Recommendations:
- for children under 36″ inches in height or when a child can climb out
Cosco Funsport Play Yard Review
Cosco Funsport Play Yard is one of the cheapest, and one of the best-rated Pack ‘N Plays at the same time. So the perfect combination to put on our list.
Of course, we have checked its quality and safety too. I am happy to say it is flawless. The Cosco Funsport Pack ‘N Play has a JPMA certificate, meets ASTM safety standards, and features a 1-year limited warranty.
The JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certificate reassures that a Pack ‘N Play doesn’t contain toxic chemicals. It ensures that a Pack ‘N Play has been tested by an independent facility and met the guidelines set by standards developer ASTM International.
ASTM International is one of the World’s largest international standards developing organizations, which helps customers to know if they are buying a safe product.
Anyway, Cosco has been one of the leading children’s product brands, recognized for its dedication to safety and good value for an affordable price.
Cosco’s Funsport Pack ‘N Play possesses all the needed features to be the best. It has four breathable, see-through mesh sides. One side has wheels, so you can lift the opposite side and roll it into another room. Pack ‘N Play has a padded floor and top edges, with enough room for the baby’s comfort.
Setting up and breaking down is also easy. It shouldn’t cause you any problems. When you get used to it, you can set it up in less than a minute. You will also get a carrying bag for storage and easy transport.
Considering you are getting all this for a little more than 50 bucks, is Cosco Funsport Play Yard absolutely worth your attention!
Cosco Funsport Play Yard Specifications:
Measurements and Weight:
- assembled dimensions: 40″ L x 30″ W x 28,2″ H
- collapsed dimensions: 28,80″ L x 8.70″ W x 8.86″ H
- weight: 22,05 pounds
Age / Weight Recommendations:
- The Cosco Funsport Playard does not have a specific weight limit, however, it should no longer be used once the child can climb out or reaches 35″ tall.
Baby Trend E Nursery Center Review
This is another quality made Pack ‘N Play at an affordable price. Baby Trend Nursery possesses an infant bassinet, crib mobile, and storage organizer, so it is classified as a nursery center.
It doesn’t have some fancy features like a music box, newborn napper, bouncer, or changing table, like some more expensive nursery center Playards. But for the price you are paying, you get a lot.
Your newborn can start using it as soon as you bring him home. You can place him on the bottom mattress or onto raised full-size bassinet, which is even more suitable for newborns. A removable full-size bassinet is hanging on the Pack ‘N Plays sides and provides perfect sleeping space for infants.
Having your infant higher is very convenient. It is much easier to reach him or put him into the Pack ‘N Play. Nobody wants to wake up a sleeping baby while struggling to place him on the crib’s or Pack ‘N Play’s bottom.
Another great additional feature for infants and young babies is a baby mobile. It has adorable toys to help stimulate the baby’s eye-hand coordination and keeps him busy when you need a minute for yourself.
Baby Trend E is a stable Pack ‘N Play with wheels for better mobility. You can easily move it around or lock the wheels to keep it in place when the baby is in the Playard.
It has a one-hand locking mechanism, which enables easy setting up or breaking down. Baby Trend also folds compact and fits into the included travel bag relatively easily.
Baby Trend E Nursery Center Specifications:
Measurements and Weight:
- assembled dimensions: 40.16″ L x 28.35″ W x (42.91 overall) 35,4″ H
- collapsed dimensions: 30.5″ L x 10.6″ W x 10.5″ H
- weight: 16,25 pounds
Age / Weight Recommendations:
- your baby can use a full-size bassinet from birth to approximately 4 months old (weight: up to 15 lbs, height: up to 25″ whichever comes first)
- Mobile: until 5 months
- your child can use this Playard from birth to around 30 lbs or until he is 35″ tall
BABY JOY Portable Baby Playard Review
BABY JOY Portable Baby Playard is a new product on the market. So, you won’t find a lot of reviews yet, but I think this will soon change. And I think parents will rate it high, and it deserves it!
I think it is an excellent Playard, with a high potential to become one of the bests, if not the best, Pack ‘N Play on the market. I was impressed by the quality of the materials. BABY JOY Portable Playard is made only of non-toxic materials and is also ASTM certified as safe for your little one.
This Pack ‘N Play is unbelievably stable. Designers placed a 7-point load-bearing structure at the bottom, which increases the stability and Playard’s load-bearing capacity. It withstands up to 33 pounds, which is a lot for a Pack ‘N Play.
It is surrounded by breathable, see-through mesh that enables a smooth airflow through the unit, and most of all, reassures parents’ fears of baby’s suffocation. It ensures uninterrupted breathing, even if the baby’s face is pressed against the Pack ‘N Play’s side.
But that’s not all, a BABY JOY Portable Playard has a multi-purpose design. It has a full-size bassinet for infants and a lower level for sleep and play. A full-size bassinet withstands 22 pounds, which is more than most similar models with a weight capacity of 15 pounds.
Setting up and collapsing is not hard and doesn’t take a lot of time. At the bottom of the unit are also two universal wheels, with a reliable locking mechanism. You can easily move it around your home and secure it during use. Or by packing it in the included carrying bag, carry it wherever you go.
BABY JOY Portable Baby Playard’s Specifications:
Measurements and Weight:
- assembled dimensions: 40,5″ L x 27.5″ W x 29,5″ H
- collapsed dimensions: 30″ L x 8″ W x 8,5″ H
- weight: 18.5 pounds
Age / Weight Recommendations:
- Bassinet: 22 pounds
- Playard: 33 pounds
- Applicable Age: 0-36 Months
Final thoughts
We have done lots of reviews and talked with numerous parents, so we are confident that our selection of cheap Pack ‘N Plays is the best.
Although we’ve selected a Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard On the Go as the best cheap Pack ‘N Play of this year, all Playards on our lists could be easily in its place. All of them have a high value for the price!
I was especially impressed by the latest model on the market, BABY JOY portable baby Playard. Its features are already perfect, for the price you are paying! And if they add more color choices and more patterns to the assortment, I think it will soon become the best affordable Pack ‘N Play overall.